Over one in three Irish women have been harassed in public

A new study shows that one in three Irish women have been physically harassed in public and that nine in 10 women feel unsafe because of their gender.

Half of those surveyed said they had experienced verbal abuse in public.

The report, Girls’ Safety in Cities Across the World, conducted by Plan International Ireland, a children’s rights charity, looked at how women perceive the world around them and how fear prevents them from going about their daily lives.

The report finds that harassment happens most frequently in bars (36 percent) followed by public streets (22 percent).

Public transportation is also a concern for women, with 58 percent saying they do not feel safe taking the bus.

Seven in 10 of Dublin-based experts said that sexual harassment of young women in the city’s public spaces is a regular occurrence, Buzz.ie reports.

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Speaking about the report, Paul O’Brien, CEO of Plan International Ireland said:

“It’s a stark reality for women in our country, especially young women, that harassment and fear are part of daily life.

"It’s clear that our young women are faced with significant barriers as they strive to achieve their full potential, barriers which men don’t seem to have to factor-in to everyday life.

"On International Day of the Girl, we are saying it’s vital that young women are consulted by their local politicians and councils and are brought into the decision-making process around areas that will directly impact on their safety in public."